A solar panel system is an excellent addition to any home or business. Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular, thanks in part to companies like Destiny Marketing Solutions which have helped to sell solar panels as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Converting the sun’s energy into electricity to power your home or business leads to savings on your energy bill and a more eco-friendly home to support a sustainable future for the world. But what happens during the winter months? With colder temperatures creeping across the southern hemisphere, does this mean solar panel systems are not as effective as in the summer months?
Solar panels rely on sunlight, not heat.
Luckily, whilst it may be getting colder, solar panels are not powered by heat. The energy that they collect comes from the sunlight. Whilst the sun may be lower in the colder months, the panels can still collect energy. The ideal conditions for solar panels are cold and bright as the photovoltaic technology used in solar panels can more efficiently convert sunlight into power in the colder months. Like most electronics, solar panel systems function more efficiently in a colder climate. The system can produce energy during winter’s sunshine hours, just as much as during the summer months. With so many benefits of solar panels, they might be the best choice for electricity generation in a house. Nowadays, several homeowners are eager to hire a solar panel installation company (like Florida Solar Energy Group) to generate solar energy in their homes.
Altering the angle of your panels may enhance their energy generation potential. Whilst we receive less direct sunlight during the colder months, the panels will still produce energy. To maximise your panels’ energy generation, changing the angle of the panel system to be lower will capture more sunlight as the sun is lower in the sky.
Just remember, the United Kingdom and Germany, which have many more rainy days and less sunlight than Australia, are two of the world’s most efficient solar-producing countries.
Making sure your panels are free of debris, including snow, leaves and dirt
With the winter months comes harsher conditions such as increased rainfall, snow and winds. One of the essential things solar homeowners can do is make sure their system is free of debris. Anything that comes between solar panels and the sun will reduce their effectiveness in energy conversion. A dirty solar array can lead to dips in energy productions, meaning owners are not receiving the best possible performance from their solar panels. If at all the panels are having micro-cracks or some electrical issues such as faulty wiring, it may be time to get in touch with a solar panel company and see if you need to get new ones installed.
Lucky for solar panel owners, rainwater is an effective natural cleaner and will help shift dirt, grime and leaves from the surface without manual labour. If you live in an area prone to snowfall during the winter, it is essential to note that solar systems will not be as effective as they cannot capture the sunshine. Whilst most solar panels are set at an angle that usually allows for snow to slide off, this can take time. If there is a build-up of snow on panels, it is best to sweep the panels or hose them off from the ground.
Again, the UK and Germany have significant snowfall in their extended winter months are still leading the way for solar power panel installation and making substantial advancements with their solar produced energy. We can see here that on a global level, solar panels and snow certainly do go together.